Missing iOS 11 feature finally surfaces in iOS 11.3 beta

Apple on Wednesday rolled out the first beta for iOS 11.3, introducing new Animoji, ARKit improvements, and Health Records. The software also brings back a feature that Apple teased at WWDC last summer.

That’s right, Messages in Cloud is available in iOS 11.3 beta 1, giving tester the opportunity to try the feature out. According to Apple, the feature will free up space on your iPhone by keeping images and other attachments in iCloud. It will also provide better syncing between multiple Apple devices.

Shortly after the feature was introduced at WWDC in 2017, Apple let developers preview Messages in iCloud in the first beta for iOS 11. However, the feature was eventually delayed beyond iOS 11’s release last September, and Apple hasn’t provided any updates since.

The fact that it’s showing up in the first beta for iOS 11.3 bodes well for the feature’s release. Users who download iOS 11.3 beta 1 will be prompted by Messages to turn the feature on. If you have two-factor authentication and iCloud backups enabled, the feature will be turned on by default.

The release of Messages on iCloud sees Apple take a crucial step toward making iOS 11 complete. Developers can download iOS 11.3 beta 1 right now.